Biopesticide
A biopesticide is a bug or plant spray made from nature that keeps pests away from crops.
Garlic powder sprinkled around a bowl of fruit keeps fruit flies away without harming the fruit. The garlic sits on the rim and acts as a natural barrier. Flies avoid the smell and stay outside the bowl. The fruit inside stays safe and untouched.
Explaining biopesticide by grade level
Some plants can keep bugs away on their own. People pick those plants, crush them, and mix them with water. They spray this mix on crops to stop bugs from eating them. It works without harsh man-made sprays.
Projects that explore biopesticide
Pyrethrum, wormwood, and rosemary all come from natural sources and can act as pest-control sprays. This experiment puts all three to the test against crickets. Fifteen crickets go into each of twelve containers, with each natural treatment assigned to three containers and three left as a control. Checking every two hours over 20 hours reveals which option proves far more effective than the others.
You can make biopesticides at home from common kitchen items. In this project, you soak chili pepper and onion in hot water to create pest sprays. You then test how well these homemade sprays protect plants compared to a store-bought option.